Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



F; CURTIS. Breech-Loading Fire-Arm.

Patented Jan; 19, 1864.

'1 Mrs ST T ATENT Prion.

FREDERICK CURTIS,

OF NEVTON LOWER FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification forming To all whom. it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK CURTIS, of Newton Lower Falls, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Breech- Loading Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare the same is fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 represents part of a-breech-load ing fire-arm containing my invention. Fig. 2 isavertical and transverse section of the same, and Fig. 3 anothervertical and transverse section of the same,these two sections being taken through the movable breech and guard-lever and the locking mechanism connected with them, as hereinafter described. Fig. 4 is a section of the spring-bolt, and Fig. 5 a section of the slotted rod, both to be hereinafter described. Fig. 6 is a top view of the triggerplate and spring-catch, to be hereinafter described. Fig. 7 is a top view of the springslide; Fig. 8, a sideview of the stud; and Fig. 9, a side view of the screw or standard, all to be hereinafter described.

In carrying out my invention I combine with the trigger and the movable trigger guard or lever of the breech-block a trigger-locking mechanism, which, by an upward movement of the said lever toward the trigger-plate and by other means or devices, shall be unlocked from the trigger and while the lever is depressed or forced away from the trigger-plate, and for the purpose of lowering the breechblock shall lock or bolt the trigger, and thereby prevent accidental discharge of the piece or fire-arm. It is in this locking mechanism and its combination with the trigger and the movable guard or lever of the breech-block, so as to produce effects as stated, that the nature of my invention consists.

' The drawings also exhibit the locking apparatus by which the trigger-guard lever O is locked to the breech block under circumstances and for the purpose as hereinafter set forth.

The locking apparatus of the guard-lever is constructed as follows: A recess, a, Fig. 3, is made through the guard-lever A, to contain a spring-bolt, b, which has a small head, 0, to

from striking against the bear against a shoulder, d, of the recess a, which prevents the bolt 1) from being forced out of the part of Letters Patent No. 41,2811, dated January 19, 1864 antedated January 2, 1864.

recess a by the spring 6, which is placed against it, and which is retained within the recess a by a screw-head, f.

9, Figs. 2, 3, and 5, is a short rod or pin playing within a recess, h, formed in the rotating breech B, the said rod having a short slot, 2', made through it, through which a screw or pin, j, passes and confines it within its recess h, but which at the same time allows a slight lateral movement of the rod The outer end of the rod g is beveled, and extends a short distance beyond the side face of the breech B, as seen atj, Fig. 8, while its inner end comes an equal distance within the recess 72, to allow the end of the spring-bolt b to enter it. will suppose the movable breech B turned down away from the barrel and the end of the spring-bolt 1) extending into the end of the recess h of the breech, as seen in Fig. 3. Under this state of things, if the breech be brought up into place by force applied to the handleO of the guardlever, the beveled end of the rod 9 will be carried in contact with the inner side or face, 70, of the receiver F of the gun, and will be pressed inward, and at the same time will press the end of the spring-bolt I) out of the recess h, and allow the guard-lever to be moved backward until its shoulder D shall have passed over the projection E, formed in the receiver F, Fig. 1. Vice versa, by laying hold of the handle of the guard-lever and rotating the breech until the beveled end of the rod 9 may have passed below the side kof the receiver F, the end of the springbolt b willbe pressed by its spring 6 into the recess h, and will retain the guard-lever in that position while the breech is away from the end of the barrel or out of the gun. The object of this locking mechanism is to prevent any play or rattle of the guard-lever, but principally to prevent the shoulder D of the guard-lever under part, Z, of the receiver F, which would otherwise prevent the breech from being brought up to place.

The trigger-locking mechanism, before mentioned, is constructed as follows: A slide or bolt, m, is placed on the trigger-plate G of the gun, and is confined thereto at one end by a screw or standard, a, having a shoulder, 0, which extends over the top of the slide or and prevents its being forced upward 011 pulling the trigger. This screw or standard passes through a short slot, 1), formed in the slide m, and screws into the trigger-plate, the said slot allowing a slight longitudinal movement of the slide m, or sufficient to allow its front end to extend into a notch, q, made in the rear end of the trigger H.

I is an arm or stud, which passes through an opening, 8, made in the trigger-plate G,and also through an opening or slot, 8, made in the slide m, the said arm being connected or hinged to the trigger-plate by a pin, 12, and to the upper part of the slide m by a pin, t, as seen in the drawings. The lower part of the arm I has a projection, 12, extending below the trigger plate. A spring, w, is confined to the upper part of the screw or standard a, and presses on the top of the arm I, as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will be seen that on drawing down the handle of the guard-lever from its place against the under part of the trigger-plate the action of the spring 10 on the arm I will force the end of the slide m into the notch of the trigger and retain the said trigger immovably in that position. Vhen the handle of the guard-lever is returned to place against the trigger-plate, it will bear against and force upward the proj ection'v and rotate the arm I on its pin a, and withdraw the end of the slide m out of the notch of the trigger and release it and allow the gun to be discharged.

In case it should be desirable not to use this safety-catch, it can be forced back away from the end of the trigger and firmly secured to the trigger-plate by a screw,ct, passing through a slot, b, formed in it and screwing into the trigger-plate, the said screw a having a head, 0, to cover the top of the slide m.

I claim- 1. In combination with the trigger and the movable guard or lever of the breech-block, a trigger-locking mechanism, which, by an upward movement of the said lever toward the trigger-plate and by other means or devices, shall be unlocked from the trigger, and while the lever may be depressed or forced away from the trigger-plate, and for the purpose of lowering the breech-block, shall lock or bolt the trigger, and thereby prevent accidental discharge of the firearm. I

2. The peculiar mechanism for operating the bolt m, the same consisting of the arm or retractor I and the spring 10, (or their mechanical equivalents) such being arranged with respect to thetrigger-bolt m and the guard-lever 0, and so as to operate and be operated in manner and under circumstances substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature this 15th day of November, A. D. 1862.

FREDERICK CURTIS. 

